Our Doors Open To Saraki, Dogara And Their Supporters – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has said its door is open to receive the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and their supporters, should they decide to dump the governing All Progressives Congress.

The APC had threatened to sanction Saraki and Dogara for defying its directive not to run for Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The governing party had presented Senator Ahmed Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as its consensus candidates for the positions.

However, with the backing of members of the PDP and other opposition parties, Saraki and Dogara, who were former members of the PDP, emerged winners in the National Assembly leadership election held on Tuesday.

Making the call on Saturday, the PDP, through its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Abdullahi Jalo, said the party was ready to accept Saraki, Dogara and their supporters in the National Assembly back to its fold.

Jalo stated that the PDP would continue to run a party that allows every Nigerian to join it whenever such individual wanted to.

According to him, there is no absolute proviso preventing defection from one party to another.

He said, “Any politician is entitled to join any political party that he so desires to join. The PDP is for everyone. We don’t quarrel with anybody. We are still soliciting for more acceptability.

“The PDP is open to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (former Governor of Lagos State and national leader, APC); Bisi Akande (former Governor of Osun State and ex-National Chairman, APC, Chief) and any other persons in the ruling APC.

“The PDP is large enough to accommodate many people of diverse backgrounds. That is why we remain the largest party in Africa. We are never going to stop anybody from leaving or victimise them after they have left.

“The former Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal (now Governor of Sokoto State) left and the party did not sanction him, unlike the APC that is threatening Saraki with sanctions”.